ttoiv need treatment, 'proper cultural methods, grading for market and
proper storage wu adopted. It wai decided 10 gei out. a gooa iwo-coior
poster to call attention to the Improvement of the potatoes of western Ne
biaska. One hundred poBtert were printed and used In Box Butte county.
Following the conference publicity wm given the project adopted by
the Box Butte Farmers' Association, for the Improvement of Box Butte
nnn!t notAtoea. Twenty meetings were held on farms of co-operators
during last of April and first of May, whore demenrtratlons of treatment
methods and seed selection was given. Charts were uaod to explain the
method of improvement that experience had demonstrated the best for Box
Butte potatoes. Six evening meetings were held with the usi of potato
disease slides furnished by the U. 8. Department of Agriculture, and slides
furnished by tho Extension Service, showing the project method of improve
ment as outlined on the charts. ,
Following these meetings a potato bulletin covering In detail ihe meth
od of Improvement wms written by the County Agent and sent to every pota
to grower In the county. The same bulletin has been published in three
different Issues of county papers.
As a result of the publicity given the methods of Improvement and re
sults secured In the county last year, results show that one hundred eight
een farmers treated all or part of their potatoes, tne total average ireai
d was about 1793 acres. , This does not Include farms that as a result of
the work, exercised care In seed selection, cultured methods, grading, etc.
Due to conditions that arose In the County Agent's work at digging
time, it was Impossible to get results from but a few of the potato demon
ctratons. The co-operators for the most part made no accurate measure
ment under these conditions and quality was their only examination. No
ease has yet been reported where either the quality or the yield was not bet
ter for both than the untreated potatoes.
Result 1010 Potato Demonstration
Areas Yield Un
treated
Check , Observation on Treated
ers thought there Vas plenty of time and did not secure seed from the
field. '
On Feb. 14 a circular letter was sent to the most of the corn growers
giving a review of the conditions, directions for taking samples, testing,
etc. Enclosed was a heavy envelope in which they were asked to return
samples of their corn taken from a large number of representative corn and
to label each Carefully stating variety, whether 1914 seed, 1915 field select
ed or 1915 crib selected.
At the end of each week the results of tests were published In all the
county papers. Notices of seed corn tests was published In Farmers' Ex
change bulletins. All 1914 seed corn and all 1915 seed that would grow
was located at the oats-smut meetings, chart was shown, giving the results
of test crop to that time which showed 1914 samples testing average of 91
per cent, 1915. field selected. 91 per cent average and crib selected 1916
corn averaging 55 per cent with high test of 83 per cent and low teat of 14
rer cent. .
As a result of the campaign, publicity, testing, etc., it was the common
talk even on the street corners as to the seed corn problem. (It must be
remembered that native corn Is very essential here for production of grain.)
Men would drive from one side of the county to the other to get seed that
would grow. Several men have cited this campaign as worth more to the
county than people supposed.
A travel In counties to the immediate west, south and east showed the
stand of corn to be not nearly as good as in Box Butte county. It is esti
mated that the spirit that was developed to meet this problem meant at
least two bushels of corn to the acre more In average of Box Butte county,
than if care had not been exercised. Granting that fifty per cent of tho
rptrit developed was as a direct result of the seed corn campaign, then the
Increased return to Box Butte's 11, IDS acres of the crop was 11,153 bush
els, which at present market price amounts to 8 8,922.
43.3 Planted too early in season. Larger.
90.0 One-fourth the scab. Better quality.
72.4 Larger. Less scab.
More and Better quality.
Smoother. More, and better quality.
Com- per A.
pared treated
John Jellnek, Ilemlngford
.38A. 48.7
A. S. Enyeart, Ilemlngford
.20A. 90.0
Peter Jensen, Ilemlngford
.26A. 80.9
M. O. Beaumont, Ilemlngford'
1.00A. 126.0 100.0
F. A. Trabert, Alliance-
.35A. 90.0 74.3
AVERAGE 86.9 76.0
County Agent assisted In measurements.
Gain by treatment and average selection: 10.9 bu. per acre.
10.9 bu. at fl per bu. equals 810.90 per acre.
Granting that the average potato grower who treated his potatoes In
1916 was less careful than method used in the demonstration to the extent
of thirty per cent in spite of the fact that the methods used In the demon
strations were the most practical, then the benefit to the potato growers
who treated potatoes would average about eight bushels per acre. Eight
bushels per acre at the present market price means f 10 per acre greater re
turn. On 1793 acres the Increased return could be 817,930. In every
case where the potatoes were treated the dealers paid five to ten cents more
per bushel. Five cents per bushel on average yield of seventy bushels
would mean 83.60 per acre. This made a total gain by treatment and sel
ection of 313.50 per acre, or 324,205 in county. 813.50 per acre times the
acreage of county would equal 875,289, a sum sufficient to pay one-half of
Box uutte taxes.
Marketing the Ilox Uutte Potato Crop
During the first three mouths of the year, considerable time was given
10 study of the different potato growers' associations In the United States.
Some valuable data waa secured from places where the potato growers' as
sociation had been at work. Much Information was secured as go where
the Triumph seed was produced and where the Triumph seed of 1915,
grown in Box Butte county, was disposed of. Communication was estab
lished with the Office of Markets, United States Department of Agriculture,
who promised to send a representative here to find out the marketing con
ditions and to explain the problems the potato grower must meet , in the
successful marketing of his crop.
C. E. BasRett of the Office of Markets and Rural Organizations, upon a
return from the Pacific Northwest, addressed two meetings of potato grow
ers and business men, one at Alliance, and the other at lieinnigford, both on
April 1, 1916. After considering both sides of tho question it was thought
best to attempt no organization until the growers had Improved their pro
ducts so as to be able to standardise, and to see if marketing conditions
would improve with their efforts.
All during the planting and growing season the problem of marketing
waa kept In mind. At the Inter-State Conference or County Agents, held at
St. Joseph, Mo., July 5-6, 1916, a representative of the Office of Markets
was on the program to explain the work that office was doing and desired
to co-operate with the County Agents. Immediately following the program,
a conference was held with the market representative and right there the
ffort started to get the Market News Service for the western Nebraska po
tato growers. The service consists of a dully market report on all import
ant markets assembled by the Office of Markets and distributed to those
who apply for it during the shipping season of the perishable in question.
Upon return trip, conference was held In Extension Office, University
farm, and method of petition for the service was decided upon. Through
eo-operatlon efforts on the part cf the County Agents of western Nebraska
and the Extension Service the assistance of the Office of Markets waa aeenr
d. On September 21, A. E. Prugh, who was In charge of the Kansas City
Office ot Markets and Rural Organizations, published from the office of the
County Ag?nt at Alliance the first market news bulletin for the western Ne
braska potato growers. The bulletin contained number of cartel shipments
of the day previous from all producing areas, the distribution and diver
sions of all Nebraska potato. shlpplnx point prices, and morning carload
prices In all tho Important cities. This Information was all telegraphed
JSere by code messages, government expense. Messages were asually in by
11 o'clock and then began the printing, the folding and the Inserting of an
average of 1800 bulletins In time to be mailed oat on the' 1 o'clock train.
This required the time of Mr. Prugh, the County Agent and office assistants
during the noon hour. Either Mr. Prugh or the County Agent was at the
Ilemlngford market each day. The demand for the bulletin steadily In
creased. Thirty-eight Issues approximating 70,099 copies were sent out of
this office.
, Upon closing the office on November 3, the mailing lib was 1936,
reaching about every potato grower in western Nebraska and adjoining sec
tions. . Of the number 394 were In Box Butte county. Seven hundred fif
teen opinions of, and requests for the service next year, have already been
received. 4 Ihese arc nearly all opinions giving the highest praise. Some
typical statements:
' "We bellevo that producers were benefitted fifteen to twenty cents per
bushel on potatoes, which to get Into dollars would mean a large rum of
jnoney." NATIONAL BANK.
. "This report Is the greatest thing the farmer has ever had In the his
tory of the potato country. It keeps him poeted so the buyer can't slip up
-on the blind side."- GROWER.
"These reports serve us reliable Information about various markets,
which we are filing for future reference." POTATO FIRM.
"I will frankly say this market report Is one of the finest things for
western Nebraska farmers and so made them several thousand dollars this
single season and I hope the farmer will still receive more good things, for
. he i the man who works for the most he gets." A GROWER.
It waa decided by the Farmers' Association upon the strength of ex
perience and repl'es received that the market news service had meant at
least twenty centr more per bushel to the growers of the county upon a crop
estimated at leas' .600.000 bushels this meant greater return of 3100,000
to potato growen in Box Butto couuty this year. ,
- .; - i .... , '
. OAT MfUT CONTROL, BOX UUTTE COUNTY, 1916 .
While considering oats smut as one of the least important lines of work
from a County Agent viewpoint In Box Butte county the results show, It to
be of much importance.
On March 25, a campaign started by circular letter to all people of the
county calling attention to the fact that a count of 118 fields of the county
in 1915 showed a vera re ' per cent smut which easily last year meant
a reduction of at Ka8t 5.73 bushels per acre yield. Directions for treating
were enclosed, r venteen demonstration meetings were held at which the
method of treatln was demonstrated, the County Agent explaining, while
those present trei-d the oats. The method was so easy, so cheap and so
effective and tue vharis bearing their neighbors' numes who bad In 1915
treated and left part untreated testified.
The maps made of the county ana snowing location or me lis news
counted was so convincing that the amount of oats treated to prevent smut
in 1916 was surprising. The returns show that on ninety-three farms there
was two thousand seven hundred thirty acres of oats treated for smut. Smut
counts made on sixteen treated fields show the per cent of smut to be only
one-half of the per cent.- Many of these fields were from twenty to thirty
three per cent smut in 1916. The sverage of smut counts made on seven
fields untreated were found to contain an average of 7.5 per rent smut. This
indicates that the percentage of smut this year while probably not so notice
able was about the same as lu 1915. Then the effect or smut being not
more than 40 per cent less because of lower yields. The treated fields av
eraged three and one-half bushels more oats per acre which at market
price is 31.75 per acre. On the 93 farms the amount was 33,777. The
-ounty on 10,000 acres of oats would have saved 35,000 bushels of oats, or
317.600. ...
live stock. Lack of forage in some cases has proved a handicap to the
farm business.
Corn used as fodder or silage has proven a success, for a good many
years. It Is depended upon at present more than any other crop to furnish
winter roughness. To the silo owner the question of having to cut over
considerable ground has always confronted him. Some have practiced
planting eastern Nebraska corn for sage. If from too far east it made
poor silage. The County Agent has recommenued the use of native calico
corn for silage purpose. This corn haa proved satisfactory and was tried
by several this year. Another yellow dent corn planted here from lower
Dawes county haa proven good silage and fodder producer. Northwestern
dent tried here this year proved good forage but did not mature.
The conclusion drawn on the corn experiment done consisted of testing
double width and regular spacing of corn for grain producing in co-operation
with the Bureau of Plant Industry, Corn Investigation, was with this
altitude and short growing season, the double spacing was not a success.
Numerous canes and sorghums have been tried by the C.ounty Agent,
800
ROOMS
SAFETY FIRST
800
ROOMS
LIVE STOCK PROBLMM! IN BOX IJUTTK COUNTY
Box Butte county is naturally a first-class live-stock county. Cheaper
pasture land and rough feed makes this possible. The farm management
results show that In every case the farm having the most live stock well
nandled are making the greatest returns. They also show that on the av
erage of farms in eastern Nebraska where grade sires are kept the live
stock have been returning 888 for every 3100 of feed fed, while those with
grade sires returned 8137 In Box Butte county. With pure-bred sires on
farms the return in eastern Nebraska was 8124, in Box Butte county 3169. cv,,,,.
u would appear from these figures that the problem of the fuluro vtuuid UjjrmOUS
chiefly of increasing the live-stock feed, the number of livo slock and lmColHnS
An effort has been made to stimulate interest for better Blres. This
use of good sires is quite generally practiced. It will bo the policy to keep
good sires as long as they are serviceable. Colt shows at the fair will be
used as a means of improving the horse Industry. Beef cattle and dairy
cattle will be shown in the same manner. Several pure-bred sires have
either been exchanged or bought on the recommendation of the County
Agent. r, ,
A spring stallion show was held last spring, but was not very well at
tended because of an army horse inspection that same day. The latter was
having the desired effect, however. ,
In the beef cattle industry a good many pure bred sires have been ex
changed and purchased. A few good herds of pure bred are maintained in
the county.
In the dairy industry which In rapidly growing good sires have been
purchased upon recommendation of the agent. . Several pure breds would
have been purchased the past year had It not been for a tuberculosis scar.
During the past two years the live-stock men have experienced consid
erable loss from loco-weed disease, especially with their horses. This year
over one hundred personal letters and government bulletins dealing with
the eradication and treatment for loco were sent to the live-stock men of
the county. As a result many ranches were rid of the trouble. A large
number of calves were vaccinated for black-leg with vaccine, distributed by
the agent.
When you are In Omaha come where all Stockmen stop. You will
always find your friends and acquaintances at the
H'OTE L CAST L E
10T1I AND JONES STS., OMAHA
Omaha's new absolutely fire-proof hotel. We welcome the Stock
men. We'll make you comfortable and our rates are most reasonable
In the city. Rooms with private both, 31.50 to 31.75. Rooms with
private toilet 31. Good car service to the Stock Yards -and Depots.
Have your commission firm telephone for room reservation.
FRED A. CASTLE, Prop.
COMFORT WITHOUT EXTRAVAGANCE
Saddle
Best
made.
stood the test
for 50 years.
Write for free
catalogue.
Alfred Cornish & Comp'y
Successors to Collins & Morrison.
1210 Fnrnam St., Omaha, Neb.
HOG CHOLERA CONTROL
The first serious outbreak of hog cholera appeared in this county dur
ing the month of October. It was brought in by a carload of hogs shipped
from the North Platte valley. . The first suspicion of cholera was reported
to the county agent, by Nells Peterson, over phone on morning of October
9. The external examination of hogs looked like hog .cholera but in order
to be absolutely sure the owuer was advised as how to recognize cholera by
post mortem examination. The post mortem showed cholera per sent and
the owner reported to County Agent, who vaccinated herd on- Oct. 14 and
Oct. 17 (different days becaoae of mistake in message). '
Following this vaccination, neighbors were warned that cholera was
present and people of county informed by public press. Since the out
break there hits only been one ease of cholera spread and that was due to
carrying the disease before knowing it to be present, or may have been held
on the premises for some time since th hogs were shipped In. Another
similar case appeared lately and too late to taake final report on. .
' The following are the herds vaccinated and the results are considered
very good since on the average were expected sixty per cent of high-temperature-
hogs die after vaccination. Only less than ten per cent of hogs nat
urally recover from cholera withovt vaccination. The serum alone method
was used in every case. Best results received where herd was vaccinated at
first appearance.
No.
... 56
... 61
. .. 38
... 63
.:. 26
... 31
... 14
... 27
300
Over
104
deg.
32
29
24
50
0
18
3
13
169
Owner
Nells PMerson, lienrlngford ......
D. K. Watson, Alliance
Mike Collins, Alliance
John Mabln, Hemingford .........
O. A. Duvlg (not exposed). Alliance
F. Bergfleld, Ilemlngford ........
N. C. Neilsen, Alliance . . ........ v .
W. F. Pittterson, Alliance .........
TOTAL
Too recent to report :
E. F. AWy, Ilemlngford (unexposed! .... 27 0
Chaa. Calmer, Alliance ...31 2
W. I. Lnrance, Alliance (unexposed) ...... 31 0
W. M. Griffith, Alliance 9 4 '
F. II. Nason, Alliance 29 16
Fred Nason. Alliance IT - ; 2
GRAND TOTAL 444 193
Already reported, high temperature uled, 69 per cent
Already reported, low temperature died, .96 per cent,
Under
104
deg.
18
22
14
13
. 26
13
11
14
131
Died
High Norm.
28
S
17
29
0
18
0
0
lot
HOTEL ROME
'The House of Courtesy"
O ma h a
Room without bnth
9I.OO up
Room with batli
f 1.60 up
Modern Lunch Room
romFmiller
Owner
BIG BUYER OF LIVE STOCK
Old Timer Doing Rigger Business
titan Kver Huying, Shipping sjmI
Selling Cattle and Hogs .
27
29
31
5
13
15
251
Estimated average cf sick hogs saved by 30 per cent serum,
The very reasonable price at which
hay can be purchased In western Ne
braska is baring a tendency to hold
cattle that would otherwise be sold ,
and may result In some being ship- ,
ped In for late winter and earry
spring feeding. D. E, Watson, who
is one of the largest buyers and
shippers of cattle and hogs in west
ern Nebraska, recently bought a lot
of hay near Halsey, at 83.85 per ton,
and which he is feeding on the
ground. He has 330 head at Eaton,
Colo., that he will probably bring to
western Nebraska some time during
the winter.
When a somewhat younger man
than he is now, that is to say in
June, 1887, Dan pitched a tent on
the site of the South St Joseph stock
yards and helped In the construction,
of the same. He worked with the
Stubbs Ballast Co. and P. D. WatBon,
contractor. His interest In the mar-,
keting o flive stock has Increased as
the years have gone by, and now ho
is gratifying it by handling cattle
and hogs on a large wale.
Mr. Business Man, on your next
trip take along some artistically
printed business cards.. The expense
is light and they are business getters.
The Herald's job printing edpart
ment will turn them out promptly.
Phone 340 and we will call.
or
BBS-
. tXIRAUK CROP" PROBLEM IN IJOX ItUTTK COUNT, 191 j
As stated In report on live-stock Industry of the county, one problem t
the County Agent has worked on was the development of better forage for
Will outlast severs steel tanks
several tanks made from other
terlal, and cost leu money. These
tanks will keep the water cooler In
summer and warmer In winter. Bend
for price list today. f '
ATLAS TANK MFG. COMPANY,
Fred Bolsen, Manager, ,
1103 W. O. W. Bide Omaha. Kbr
RAILROAD MAN AND RANCHMAN
One of the best known trainmen
running out of Alliance is George L.
Milllken. He Is a practical live
stock man, too, and makes a success
. of both ends of his business. The
. following Item concerning him' is
taken from the South Omaha Dally
, Drovers Journal-Stockman of Decern-
ber 20:
G. L. Milliken, who has run an en
; pine in the passenger service on the
, Burlington line between Ravenna
and Alliance for twenty-two years, is
. a visitor at the yards. Mr. Milllken
: is on his way back to Alliance, afW
. a visit to his old home in Pennsyl
, vania, near Pittsburgh. In addition
to being a railroad man Mr. Milllken
' has a fine stock ranch in what Is
: known as the Horseshoe Valley la
' the Scottsbluff district. He has fed
. both cattle and sheep at different
times on his place and has done very
! well. At the present time, however
; he is feeding hogs only, having 309
head that will be ready for market in
the not distant future.
The Alliance Herald is $1.60 per
year. Issued 52 times. Runs from
12 to 24 pages per Issue. Subscribe
now. -
H. B. Brand Saddlery, Horse Blankets, Lap Robes, Whips, Etc.
Harpham and Fremont Saddles are handled by the.followingdealers:
1UX BUTTK KF.KR CORN CAMPAIGN. KPRINtJ, 101
On the ordinary year the question of seed corn that will grow has not
been considered very seriously in Box Butte county. An early killing frost
ia the wet backward season of 1915 brought about a condition not very fa
miliar lo tne average' corn grower of the county. , l
A few picked seed corn from the field before frost last fall as a result
of s circular letter setting s "Farmers' Abmh-UUou 8d Corn Day". Oth-
iff
Ai os worth, E. C. Mallard."
Alliance, Rheln-Rousey Co.
Anselmo, W. W. Bass & Co. ' .
Ansley, Comstock & Mills.
Aahby, J. Halloren Lbr. Co.
Bayard, Henderson ft Franklin.
Belmont, Reladorfer Bros.
Berwyn, G. C. Stanton.
Bridgeport, H, C. Burke.
Broadwater. J. R. Minshall.
Broken Bow, II. H. Squires.
Chadron. W. S. Gillam.
Chappell. Chappell Lbr. ft Hdw. Co.
Cody, Stotts ft Jarchow. , v
Crawford, Crawford Hdw. Co.' .
Crookston, Holmes Hdw. Co.
Dalton, Bridgeport Lbr. Co. '
Dlx. Phil .Nelson.
Dunning. W. R. Moore,
tiering, E. L. Qulnton.
Gordon, Jos. Kocer ft Co.
Halgvllle, C. M. Thompson.
Harrison. Z. B. Johnson.
Hay Springs, Parsons Hdw. Co.
Hazard, C. W. Trumble.
ilemlngford, C. A. Shlndler.
Hyannls. F. M. Spalding Lbr. Co.
Johnstown. E. E. Waggener.
Kimball, Gus Linn.
Lakeside. Crowther-Reed Co.
Lewellen, Ro'.. 'au; ft Berqulst.
Linscott. A. r. Cook.
Llsco, Llsco .ie. Co.
Litchfield. G U . Lang.
Iodgepole, E 'njske.
Long Pine, M. I Potter.
Melebta, Dutton A Sons.
Merna, A. J. Rtud.
rt Hdw. Co.
Clotigh,
& Tyler.
Glenn
fcetierry. "
Merrlman, I.e.
Mlnatore. C. t?
Mitchell. Kilty
MorrilJ, Logef.
Mullen, J. L. i;
North Platte. X. K. Fink.
Northport, Jes, Edson.
ogallala. C. E Lass ft Co .
Oehkosh, Quelle Bros.
Potter, C. W. JohnRon
Rushvllle, Coffey & Wasmund
Rushvllle. 8. S. Connell.
Scottsbluff, R. D. OwensT
Sidney, Mrs. C. D. Essig.
Sidney. Thos. Olson. I
Sutherland, E. C. Brown.
Valentine, T. L. Evans.
Whitman, S. G. Wright.
Whitney, Whitney Supply Co.
Wood Lake, Wood Lake Lbr. Co
WE MAKE THE BEST LINE OF HARNESS STOCK SADDLES AND HORSE COLLARS ON THE MARKET. THEY ARE
HANDLED BY SOME OF THE BEST RETAIL DEALERS IN NEBRASKA, KANSAS, COLORADO, WYOMING, MONTANA
AND SOUTH DAKOTA. V V
HARPHAM BROS. CO.,
Lincoln, Nebraska